Coin controlled actuating mechanism



y 1969 w. D. TINSLEY, JR 3,

COIN CONTROLLED ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 4, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 1July 15, 1969 w. D. TINSLEY, JR 3,455,427

COIN CONTROLLED ACTUATING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 4, 1966July 15, 1969 Filed Nov. 4, 1966 COIN W. D. TINSLEY, JR

CONTROLLED AGTUATING MECHANISM Sheets-Sheet 5 WILL/4M 0. man

M/VEA/TOP July 15, 1969 w. D. TINSLEY, JR 3,

COIN CONTROLLED ACTUATING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 4, 1966M/VE/V 701 lllfd z U nited States Patent 3,455,427 COIN CONTROLLEDACTUATING MECHANISM William D. Tinsley, Jr., Ezzell Manufacturing Co.,Eufaula, Ala. 36027 Filed Nov. 4, 1966, Ser. No. 592,102 Int. Cl. G07f/02, 3/02 U.S. Cl. 19455 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Thisinvention relates generally to coin controlled actuator mechanisms andmore particularly to coin controlled actuator mechanism for use in avending machine.

Coin controlled actuator mechanisms for use on vending machines are wellknown in the art, however, these actuator mechanisms generally arerather expensive to manufacture and unreliable in service due to theinclusion of a number of springs in critical locations which frequentlybreak or become inoperative. Moreover, these prior art actuatormechanisms will not be operative if the mechanism is not positioned in apredetermined plane.

Accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide acoin controlled actuator mechanism inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a coin controlledactuator mechanism which operates while positioned in a plurality ofdifferent planes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a coin controlledactuator mechanism in which the selection of coin sizes for use toactivate the mechanism may be easily changed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a coin controlledactuator mechanism in which the coins used to activate the mechanism arevisual for an extended period of time after the machine has beenactivated.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a coin controlledactuator mechanism utilizing a minimum number of springs which tend toget out of adjustment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a coin controlledactuator mechanism having a sufficient stroke to actuate substantiallyall vending machines.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a coin controlledactuator mechanism capable of being attached either internally orexternally to the vending machine without any modifications to thevending machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a coin controlledactuator mechanism which is unaffected by changes in temperature andimmersion in liquids.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a coin controlledactuator mechanism effective to reject coins of improper size and whichcontain ferrous qualities.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more clearly understood upon consideration of thefollowing specification and accompanying drawings wherein likecharacters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout and inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of that embodiment of the invention shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the last two plates of the inventionshown in FIG. 1 illustrating the coins acti- 3,455,427 Patented July 15,1969 vating the coin calipers to unlock the slide lock to permitoperation of the slide;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 44 in FIG. 1showing the slide in coin rejecting position; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 55 in FIG. 1illustrating a coin in coin viewing position and the position of theslide for discharging the coin into viewing position.

These figures and the following detailed description disclose onespecific embodiment of the invention however, it is to be understoodthat the inventive concept is not limited thereto since it may beembodied in other equivalent forms.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the invention is abuilt-up structure comprising a series of plates. A base plate 10 servesto locate the parts of the invention, a slide spacer 11 is carried bythe base plate 10 and provides a slide cavity 12 into which a slide 14is positioned, a sub-base plate 15 is carried by the spacer 11 andserves as a cover for the cavity 12 and a base for other parts of theinvention, a coin display spacer 16 is carried by the sub-base plate 15and provides a display cavity 18 within which coins that have actuatedthe invention are displayed; a window frame 19 is carried by the displayspacer 16 and defines a window cavity 20 therein; and a cover plate 21is carried by the window frame 19 and serves to retain, in combinationwith the base plate 10, the parts of the invention therebetween.

The base plate 10 is a thin flat rectangular sheet member which isstamped from fiat material and is provided with various cutouts as willbe explained hereinafter. The slide spacer 11 is also a stamped thinflat sheet member having a substantially rectangular shape and defines acentral cutout 22 of a width suflicient to slidably receive the slide 14therein.

The side 14 is a substantially rectangularly shaped thin sheet memberhaving a centrally located aperture 24 extending therethrough. A coincarriage recess 25 is provided on each side of the slide '14 just belowthe top 26 of the slide 14. A forwardly extending spring urged dischargecam 29 is received in each recess 25 when the slide 14 is in itsuppermost position to discharge coins carried in the recesses 25. It isto be understood that the particular size and shape of the recesses 25will be determined by the coins to be used therein and may differ fordifferent applications.

On each side of the slide 14 below the recesses 25 is a slide lockingnotch 30 effective to engage caliper operated slide locks 31 uponmovement of the slide 14 without proper size coins within the recesses25. Below the locking notches 30, the slide 14 is provided with aplurality of check notches 32 on each side thereof which are effectiveto engage advance checks 34 in a manner hereinafter described.

The cutout 22 opens at the top of the slide spacer 11 and the spacer 11is provided with an arcuate coin entry recess 35 which, in combinationwith a coin spacer 36, defines a coin entry passage 38 on each side ofthe top of the invention. Each passage 38 is so shaped to deliver a coindeposited therein to one of the recesses 25 when the slide 14 is in itsuppermost position. When the slide 14 is not in its uppermost position,the discharge cam 29 is effective to retain the coin in'the passage 38until the slide 14 is returned to its uppermost position. The top 26 ofthe slide 14 is appropriately shaped to insure displacement of the coinsfor the slide 14 to pass thereby in moving to its uppermost position.

A caliper recess 39 which opens into the cutout 22 is provided onopposite edges of the cutout 22 to receive a caliper 40 therein which ispivotably carried by the base plate as hereinafter set forth. Pivotablypositioned within the lowermost portion of each of the caliper recesses39 is one of the slide locks 31 Which is operatively connected to thecaliper 40. The lower corner of the recess 39 is provided with a keyholeslot 41 effective to carry a keyed leaf spring 42 therein which urgesthe upper end of the locks 3'1 toward the side of the slide 14. Sincethe spring 42 urges the extending end of the slide lock 31 toward theslide 41, it in turn urges the caliper toward the slide 14.

A check recess 44 is provided in the slide spacer 11 under each of therecess 39 and a short distance above the bottom of the cutout 22. Eachof the check recesses 44 opens into the cutout 22 at one end andconnects with a key hole slot 45 to receive a pair of keyed leaf springs42 therein which connect with the advance check 34 and serve to retainthe check 34 in a predetermined position. The bottom of the cutout 22connects with a pair of coin discharge openings 46 through which a coinis discharged after being displayed.

The base plate 10 is provided with a pair of cam apertures 48appropriately located to underlie the coin recesses 25 of the slide 14when it is in its uppermost position. The discharge cams 29 extendthrough the apertures 48 and the recesses 25 when the recesses 25 andthe aeprtures 48 are aligned. The earns 29 are appropriately rounded ateach end thereof to be urged rearwardly by the slide 14 and permit theslide 14 to pass thereby when a force is applied thereto. The cams 29are urged forwardly through the apertures 48 in the back of the baseplate 10 by leaf springs 49.

The leaf springs 49 are of a substantially L-shaped configuration andare mounted on the rear side of the base plate 10. The springs 49 areprovided with apertures therethrough which receive partially punchedmaterial from the base plate 10 therethrough. After this material hasbeen received through the apertures, it is peened over to hold thesprings 49 in place. This results in an inexpensive and efiicientconstruction.

Below the discharge apertures 48 and vertically aligned therewith is asecond pair of discharge apertures 48 located so that cams 29' slidablycarried therethrough extend into the coin carriage recesses 25 when theslide 14 is at its lowermost position. The earns 29' are urged forwardby the leaf springs 49 also fixedly attached to the back of the baseplate 10.

The slide spacer 11 is positioned on the base plate 10 by locating pins64 extending through the alignable holes 65 in the base plate '10 andthe spacer 11. The coin spacer 36 is also positioned on the base plate10 by 10- cating pins 64 extending through alignable holes 65 in thebaseplate 10 and the coin spacer 36. This is effective to properly placethe spacer 11 and spacer 36 so that the coin passages 38 are properlydefined. The spacer 36 has a limit cutout 66 therein to receive theupper end of the slide 14 therein and limit the upward movement of theslide 14.

The caliper 40 has an elongate shoe 68 which contacts the edge of theslide 14 below the recess 25 when the slide 14 is in its uppermostposition and has integral with the upper end thereof an angularlyoutwardly inclined pivot arm 69 pivotably pinned to the base plate 10 bya pivot pin 70. The pin 70 is located so that the caliper 40 is carriedwithin the caliper recess 39.

The lower end of the shoe 68 is integral with a downwardly extendingoperating extension 71 which engages, at its lower extending end, theslide lock 31. The slide lock 31 is an elongate member having anengaging slot 72 in the upper end thereof which receives the extension71 therein. The lock 31 is pivoted to the base plate 10 by a pivotingpin 70 so that it is located in the lower portion of the recess 39, andthe leaf spring 42 bears against the upper portion of the lock 31 tourge the lock 31 and thus the shoe 68 toward the slide 14.

The advance check 34 is pivotably mounted on the base plate 10 by apivot pin 70 so that the check 34 is located within the recess 44. Thecheck 34 has a tapered engaging tooth 74 at the inner edge thereofeffective to engage the check notches 32 as the slide 14 moves from itsuppermost position to its lowermost position. The outer edge of thecheck 34 is integral with an operating tab 75 received between the pairof leaf springs 42 carried within the keyhole slot 45. This is effectiveto urge the check 34 toward a rotational position substantiallyperpendicular to the center line of the base plate 10. Therefore, as theslide 14 rnoves within the cutout 22 in the slide spacer 11, the teeth74 of the advance checks 34 engage the check notches 32 in the sides ofthe slide 14 and permit movement of the slide 14 in one direction whichcannot be reversed until the stroke of the slide 14 is completed.

The -sub-base plate 15 has the same general shape as the base plate 10and is placed over the spacer 11 and located by the pins 64 extendingthrough holes 65 in the sub-base plate 15. A pair of reject dischargeapertures 76 extend through the plate 15 and overlie the cams 29extending through the apertures 48. The discharge apertures 76 are ofsuflicient size to receive therethrough coins that may be forcedforwardly from the recesses 25 by the discharge cams 29.

A reject cutout 50 substantially rectangular in shape extends thrOughthe sub-base plate 15 just upwardly of the centerline of the aperture 76and just outwardly of the circumference thereof. An angularly disposedpassage 51 connects the inner side of the cutout 50 with each of theapertures 76 and a magnet retaining tab 52 integral with the sub-baseplate 15 extends downwardly into the cutouts 50 from the upper sidethereof. Each of these tabs 52 tapers forwardly on the rear side thereofso that the lowermost edge 54 thereof is thinner than the base thereof.This is effective to allow a coin passing thereby to be pivotedforwardly if the coin is urged forwardly. If the coin contains anyferrous metal content, it will be urged forwardly by a magnetic force asexplained hereinafter.

The lower side of the cutouts 50 tapers rearwardly so that the side isthinner than the thickness of the sub-base plate 15. This allows a cointhat has been pivoted forwardly by a magnetic force through the tab 52to shift in front of the sub-base plate 15 and be rejected. It should benoted here that the material of the components of the invention are ofnon-magnetic material such as aluminum so that the magnetic force willnot effect the operation of the invention.

A centrally located vertically extending elongate slot 78 is definedthrough the subbase plate 15 and is effective to receive therein analignment roller 79 rotatably and centrally carried by the upperextending end of the slide :14. This is effective to maintain the slide14 in vertical alignment within the slide cavity 12 as it is moved upand down therein. The slot 78 is sufl'iciently long to receivetherethrough an operating handle 80 which extends through the centralaperture 24 in the slide 14, and permit movement of the slide 14 andhandle 80 to the lowermost position of the slide 14. A pair of operatingdischarge apertures 77 are provided through the sub-base plate 15 whichoverlie the discharge cams 29' so that coins discharged from the coincarriage recesses 25 by the earns 29' are allowed to pass therethrough.The lower end of the subbase plate 15 is provided with a pair ofdischarge openings 83 which have the same shape as the dischargeopenings 46 in the slide spacer 11 and overlie these openings.

Pivotably mounted on the forward side of the sub-base plate 15 is a coindisplay actuator 84 which has a generally L-shaped configuration. Theactuator 84 comprises a pivot arm 85 pinned to the forward side of thesub-base late 15 by pin 86 and an actuator arm 88 positioned adjacentthe slot 78 through the sub-base plate 15 at the upper portion thereof.The actuator arm 88 has a cam surface 89 which is engaged by thealignment roller 79 of the slide 14 so as to maintain the actuator arm88 in vertical alignment when the slide 14 is in its upper positions.

A connecting slot or recess 90 is provided at the junction of the arms88 and 85 and receives therein an actuator tab 91 of a driving plate 92.The driving plate 92 is substantially T-shaped with a vertical guide arm94 positioned on the opposite side of the slot 78 from the actuator arm88 and a pair of driving arms 95 extending outwardly therefromsubstantially perpendicular thereto. The guide arm 94 is provided with acam surface 96 effective to engage the alignment roller 79 and maintainthe drive plate 92 in alignment therewith during the operation thereof.

A trip recess 98 is provided at the junction of the guide arm 94 and thedriving arm 95 and is engaged by the alignment roller 79 as itapproaches the lower limrts of its downward stroke to displace the driveplate 92 downwardly. As the drive plate 92 is displaced downwardly, theactuator 84 is pivoted about pin 86 through actuator tab 91 since thealignment roller 79 has now cleared the cam surface 89 of the actuatorarm 88. This allows the plate 92 to be operated while still beingconnected to the actuator 84. As the slide 14 is moved upwardly again,the alignment roller 79 engages the cam surface 89 and forces theactuator arm 88 back to its original position thereby causing the recess90 to lift the driving plate 92 back to its original position throughthe actuator tab 91.

Attached to the outer extending ends of each of the driving arms 95 is adownwardly extending advancing arm 99 provided with a series ofadvancing cams 100 on the inside thereof which engage advancing detents101 pivotably carried on the sub-base plate through pins 102. As can beseen from FIG. 2, the advancing arms 99 are provided with four advancingcams 100 and four advancing detents 101 on either side thereof so thatthree coins will be displaced to view in the device during the operationthereof. It will be seen that each of the detents 101 comprise acircular web portion 103 and a pair of actuating sectors 107 integraltherewith and extending radially outward therefrom on opposite sidesthereof. Each of the sectors 107 has an upper camming edge 93 and alower camming edge 97. The outer peripheral edges of the sectors 107will be designated as 113.

Since the advancing detents 101 on the left side of the device areidentical to the advancing detents 101 on the right side of the device,the operating characteristics of the advancing detents 101 on the leftside of the device will be described in detail, it being understood thatthose advancing detents 101 on the right side of the device operate insubstantially the same manner. It will be seen that as the alignmentroller 79 moves the driving plate 92 downwardly, the advancing arms 99will be moved downwardly. This causes the advancing detents 101 to bemoved counter-clockwise as seen in FIG. 2 by the advancing cams 100.This is effective to allow a coin to drop from the uppermost edges 93 ofthe advancing detents 101 and be engaged by the peripheral edges 113thereof. As the driving plate 92 is pivoted upwardly by the upwardmovement of the alignment roller 79 engaging the cam surface 89 0f theactuator arm 88, the advancing detents 101 will be rotated clockwise sothat the coin drops from the outer peripheral edges 113 of the advancingdetents 101 to the upper edge 93 of the next adjacent lower detents 101and retained there so that the coin will be displayed.

A spacer plate 110 is mounted between the advancing detents 101 on theleft side of the device and the advancing detents 101 to retain coinstherebetween for the display thereof. It will also be noted that thespacer plate 110 has a vertical slot 111 in the upper portion thereofeffective to receive the handle 80 therethrough to permit movement ofthe slide 14 vertically.

A deflection plate 112 is mounted through each of the discharge openings83 and 46 and the discharge openings 43 in the base plate 10 and servesto deflect a coin dropping from the peripheral edges 113 of theadvancing detents 101 rearwardly and out of the back of the device. Apair of shoulders 114 is provided on either side of the deflectionplates 112 and serve to retain the deflection plates 112 within thedevice.

The coin display spacer 16 is seen to comprise an upper spacer plate 115and a lower spacer plate 116. The upper spacer plate 115 has the samegeneral exterior configuration of the upper portion of the sub-baseplate 15 and is provided with a recess 118 therein which allows pivotalmovement of the actuator arm 88 without engaging the upper spacer plate115. The recess 118 also has a pair of extension cutouts 119 on oppositesides thereof effective to provide a space to receive coins dischargedthrough the apertures 76 or cutouts 50. The pair of magnet cutouts 58are provided in the upper spacer plate 115 and are effective to locatemagnets 59 received therein immediately forward of the tabs 52 toprovide the necessary magnetic force to deflect ferrous coins forrejection.

After passage through the apertures 76 or cutouts 50-, a coin will dropon one of the driving arms 95 or the upper surface of the pivot arm 85and roll outwardly until engaged by a recess 119 in the upper extendingends of the lower spacer plate 116 having a generally U-shapedconfiguration effective to guide the advancing arms 99. Therefore, itwill be seen that as a coin is discharged through the apertures 76 orcutouts 50, it rolls downwardly until retained by the recess 119' at theupper extending end of the lower spacer plate 116.

The window frame 19 is positioned over the coin display spacer 16 andthe window cavity 20 thereof is effective to carry a pair of spaceddisplay windows 120 therein in side by side relationship. The windows120 receive a vertical slide 121 therebetween provided with an aperture122 for the receipt of the handle 80 therethrough so that the verticalslide 121 is moved vertically as the handle 80 is operated. A pair ofmagnet apertures 60 aligned with the cutouts 58 are provided in theupper portion of the frame 19 for the receipt of the magnets 59.

The cover plate 21 is positioned over the window frame 19 and serves toretain the display windows 120 and the vertical slide 121 in position.The cover plate 21 is provided with a pair of reject display apertures124 to permit the visual inspection of the reject mechanism behind thewindows 110 and the lower portion thereof is provided with a pair ofelongate coin display slots 125 which permit the visual inspection ofthe coins held within the display mechanism. Centrally located in thecover plate 21 is a vertical aperture 126 effective to permit verticalmovement of the handle 80 extending therethrough so that the machine maybe operated. The entire assembly is held together by a series of nut andbolt assemblies 128 which extend through appropriate apertures 129 ineach of the plates 10, 11, 15, 16, 19 and 21.

OPERATION In operation it will be seen that, assuming that slide 14 isin its uppermost position, coins may be inserted in each of the coinentry passages 38 so that they travel therealong until they rest in thecoin carriage recesses 25 in each side of the slide 14. The handle 80 isthen grasped and forced downwardly carrying the slide 14 and coinsinserted therein downwardly with it. Assuming the coins are of theproper size, they will engage each of the calipers 40 and deflect thesecalipers outwardly to deflect the slide locks 31 outwardly so as not toengage the locking notches 30 in the slide 14. As the slide 14 passesdownwardly, the advance checks 34 engage the check notches 32 in thesides of the slide 14 to prevent the slide 14 from being moved upwardlyuntil the stroke is completed.

When the slide 14 reaches its lowermost position, the coins carried inthe recesses 25 are discharged forwardly through apertures 77 by thedischarge cams 29'. This places the coins in displaying position wherebythey rest on the lower camming edge 97 of each of the detents 101 andagainst the edge of the spacer plate 110. In this position, the vendingmachine has been activated through its connection with the handle 80.

As the handle 80 and slide 14 are moved upwardly, the actuator 84 causesthe drive plate 92 to be lifted thereby causing the advancing arms 99 topivot the detents 101 clockwise to drop the coins from the first pair ofdetents 101 onto the outer peripheral edge 113 of the second pair ofdetents 101, the coins still resting against one edge of the spacerplate 110. The advance checks 34 engage the check notches 32 in thesides of the slide 14 to prevent the slide 14 from being moveddovmwardly again before it reaches its uppermost position. The mechanismmay be operated again upon the proper size coins being laced in the coinentry passages 38 and manipulating the handle 80. Each time coins aredischarged into displaying posi tion, the detents 101 are rotated sothat the coins already being displayed are moved down one detent. On thefourth operation of the mechanism, the lowermost coins being displayedare dropped from the detents 101 and discharged rearwardly by the plates112 extending through the discharge openings 83, 46 and 45 into aconventional coin receptacle (not shown).

If a slug is placed in the coin entry passages 38 and contain anyferrous metal therein, the magnets 59 pivot the lower edge of the coinforwardly as permitted by the tapered tabs 52 in the reject cutout 50.This causes the lower edge of the coin to be displaced in front of thelower side of the cutout 50 so that the coin will fall to the spaceprovided for rejecting the coins by the upper surface of one of thedriving arms 95 or the pivot arm 85 and roll outwardly to be removedfrom the mechanism.

The size of the coins to be utilized by the mechanism may be changedsimply by replacing the coin spacer 36, the slide 14, and the spacerplate 110 so that the different size coin can be deposited into thedevice and activate the calipers 40 as slide 14 is moved downwardly.

What is claimed as my invention is:

1. An actuating mechanism using coins of a predetermined size for thecontrol of the operation thereof comprising:

(a) a body defining therein a coin entry passage arranged to provide forthe passage of coins therethrough under the force of gravity, a slidecavity, a display cavity laterally spaced from said slide cavity, and adischarge aperture connecting said slide cavity and said display cavity,said entry passage opening on the exterior of said body andcommunicating at its lower end with said slide cavity;

(b) slide means movably positioned in said slide cavity effective toreceive coins from said entry passage and move the coins along saidslide cavity, as said slide means moves;

(c) check means movably carried in said slide cavity and effective tonormally engage said slide means to prevent the movement thereof, saidcheck means being displaced from engagement with said slide means bysaid coin of a predetermined size carried by said slide means to permitmovement of said slide means and said coins;

(d) discharge means carried by said body effective to laterally transfersaid coins from said slide means to said display cavity when said slidemeans reaches a predetermined position; and

(e) a plurality of pivotally mounted detent means carried in saiddisplay cavity, each detent means selectively retaining one of saidcoins for viewing and selectively releasing said coin for movementthereof under gravity to the next detent means for selectively retainingsaid coin for further viewing.

2. An actuating mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bodycomprises:

(a) a base plate pivotably carrying said check means and said dischargemeans, and defining one side of said coin entry passage and said slidecavity;

(b) a slide spacer carried adjacent said base plate and defining theedges of said slide cavity;

(c) a sub-base plate carried adjacent said slide spacer and defining theother side of said central cutout and one side of said discharge cavity,said sub-base plate defining said discharge apertures therethroughconnecting said central cutout and said discharge cavity, said sub-baseplate carrying said detent means in said display cavity;

(d) a coin display spacer carried adjacent said sub-base plate anddefining the edges of said display cavity; (e) transparent cover meansadjacent said coin display spacer defining the other side of saiddisplay cavity and effective to present coins in said display cavity tothe view of an operator; and

(f) means for securing said base plate, said slide spacer, said sub-baseplate, said coin display spacer and said cover together.

3. An actuating mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said slidemeans includes (a) a recess defined therein effective to receive coinsfrom said entry passage and position the coin to activate said checkmeans as said slide means is moved in said slide cavity;

(b) a notch defined therein effective to be engaged by said check meansto prevent downward movement of said slide when the improper size coinis carried within said recess and effective to be released by said checkmeans when said coin carried in said recess in said slide is of saidpredetermined size; and

(c) handle means carried by said slide means and extending exteriorly ofsaid body effective to be manually engaged to move said slide in saidslide cavity and connected to a vending machine to activate the same assaid handle means is moved.

4. An actuating mechanism as set forth claim 1 wherein said check meanscomprises:

(a) a caliper member pivotally carried by said body and positioned insaid slide cavity adjacent said slide means, said caliper member havinga shoe portion engagable by a coin of said predetermined Size carried insaid recess in said slide means to displace said caliper member fromadjacent said slide means;

(b) a lock member pivotally' carried by said body and positioned in saidslide cavity, for engagement with said slide means to prevent thedownward movement thereof, said lock member operably connected to saidcaliper member and effective to be moved toward engagement with saidslide means as said caliper member is moved toward said slide means andto be displaced from engagement With said slide member as said calipermember is displaced from adjacent said slide means; and

(c) means for urging said lock member toward engagement with said slidemeans.

5. An actuating mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said dischargemeans includes:

(a) an aperture defined through said body, communicating with said slidecavity and aligned with dis charge aperture;

(b) a discharge cam slidably extending through said aperture and intosaid slide cavity behind said discharge aperture to discharge coinscarried by said slide means through said discharge aperture and intosaid display cavity when said slide means is at the lowermost positionin said slide cavity; and

(c) a leaf springfixedly attached to the rear side of said body at oneend thereof and carrying said cam at the other end thereof, said springeffective to urge said cam toward said slide cavity at all times, saidslide member effective to displace said cam from said slide cavity assaid slide means moves within said slide cavity.

6. An actuating mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said detentmeans comprises:

(a) a plurality of vertically spaced detent members pivotally mounted onsaid body and positioned in said display cavity, each of said detentmembers comprising a central web and a pair of diametrically oppositelyextending sector portions effective to engage the coins in said displaycavity in one position and to release the coins in an alternateposition; and

(b) linkage means operably connecting said detent members to said slidemeans for moving said detent members from said one position to saidalternate position synchronously with the movement of said slide means.

7. An actuating mechanism as set forth in claim 6 wherein said linkagemeans comprises:

(a) a vertically movable advancing arm having cam means thereon operablyconnected to said detent members and effective to move said detentmembers from said one position to said alternate position and from saidalternate position to said one position upon movement of said advancingarms;

(b) an actuator pivotally carried by said sub-base plate and engageablewith said slide means for movement therewith; and

(c) connecting means operably connected to said actuator and saidadvancing arm for moving said actuator and said advancing arm as saidconnecting means is moved, said connecting means engageable by saidslide means for movement therewith.

8. An actuating mechanism as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

(a) a recess defined therein elfective to receive coins from said entrypassage and position the coin to activate said check means as said slidemeans is moved in said slide cavity;

(b) a notch defined therein effective to be engaged by said check meansto prevent downward movement of said slide when the improper size coinis carried within said recess and effective to not be engaged by saidcheck means when said coin carried in said recess in said slide is ofsaid predetermined size;

(c) handle means carried by said slide means and extending exteriorly ofsaid body efiective to be manually engaged to move said slide in saidslide cavity;

(d) a calpier member pivotally carried by said body and positioned insaid slide cavity adjacent said slide means, said caliper member havinga shoe portion engageable by a coin of said predetermined size carriedin said recess in said slide means to displace said caliper member fromadjacent said slide means;

(e) a lock member pivotally carried by said body and positioned in saidslide cavity, for engagement with said slide means to prevent thedownard movement thereof, said lock member operably connected to saidcaliper member and effective to be moved toward engagement with saidslide means as said caliper member is moved toward said slide means andto be displaced from engagement with said slide member as said calipermember is displaced from adjacent said slide means;

(f) means for urging said lock member toward engagement with said slidemeans;

(g) an aperture defined through said body and communicating with saidslide cavity and aligned with discharge aperture;

(h) a discharge cam slidably extending through said aperture and intosaid slide cavity behind said discharge aperture to disharge coinscarried by said slide means through said discharge aperture and intosaid display cavity when said silde means is at the lowermost positionin said slide cavity;

(i) a leaf spring fixedly attached to the rear side of said body at oneend thereof and carrying said cam at the other end thereof, said springeffective to urge said cam toward said slide cavity at all times, saidslide member efiective to displace said cam from said slide cavity assaid slide means moves within said slide cavity;

(j) a plurality of vertically spaced detent members pivotally mounted onsaid body and positioned in said display cavity, each of said detentmembers comprising a central web and a pair of diametrically oppositelyextending sector portions effective to engage the coins in said displaycavity in one position and to release the coins in an alternateposition, and,

(k) linkage means operably connecting said detent members to said slidemeans for moving said detent members from said one position to saidalternate position synchronously with the movement of said slide means.

9. An actuating mechanism as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

(a) a base plate pivotably carrying said check means and said dischargemeans, and defining one side of said coin entry passage and said slidecavity;

(b) a slide spacer carried adjacent said base plate and defining theedges of said slide cavity;

(c) a sub-base plate carried adjacent said slide spacer and defining theother of said central cutout and one side of said discharge cavity, saidsub-base plate defining said discharge apertures therethrough connectingsaid central cutout and said discharge cavity, said sub-base platecarrying said detent means in said display cavity;

(d) a coin display spacer carried adjacent said sub-base plate anddefining the elges of said display cavity;

(e) transparent cover means adjacent said coin display spacer definingthe other side of said display cavity and effective to present coins insaid display cavity to the view of an operator;

(f) means for securing said base plate, said slide spacer, said sub-baseplate, said coin display spacer and said cover together;

(g) a recess defined therein efiective to receive coins from said entrypassage and position the coin to activate said check means as said slidemeans is moved in said slide cavity;

(h) a notch defined therein elfective to be engaged by said check meansto prevent downward movement of said slide when the improper size coinis carried within said recess and efiective to not be engaged by saidcheck means when said coin carried in said recess in said slide is ofsaid predetermined size;

(i) handle means carried by said slide means and extending exteriorly ofsaid body efiective to be manually engaged to move said slide in saidslide cavity;

(j) a caliper member pivotally carried by said body and positioned insaid slide cavity adjacent said slide means, said caliper member havinga shoe portion engagable by a coin of said predetermined size cartied insaid recess in said slide means to displace said caliper member fromadjacent said slide means;

(k) a lock member pivotally carried by said body and positioned in saidslide cavity, for engagement with said slide means to prevent thedownward movement thereof, said lock member operably connected to saidcaliper member and effective to be moved toward engagement with saidslide means as said caliper member is moved toward said slide means andto be displaced from engagement with said slide member as said calipermember is displaced from adjacent said slide means;

(1) means for urging said lock member toward engagement with said slidemeans;

(111) an aperture defined through said body and communicating with saidslide cavity and aligned with discharge aperture;

(11) a discharge cam slidably extending through said aperture and intosaid slide cavity behind said dis- 1 1 charge aperture to dischargecoins carried by said slide means through said discharge aperture andinto said display cavity when said slide means is at the lowermostposition in said slide cavity;

() a leaf spring fixedly attached to the rear side of said body at oneend thereof and carrying said cam at the other end thereof, said springeffective to urge said cam toward said slide cavity at all times, saidslide member effective to displace said cam from said slide cavity assaid slide means moves within said cavity;

(p) a plurality of vertically spaced detent members pivotally mounted onsaid body and positioned in said display cavity, each of said detentmembers comprising a central Web and a pair of diametrically oppositelyextending sector portions effective to engage the coins in said displaycavity in one position and to release the coins in an alternateposition; and

(q) linkage means operably connecting said'detent members to said slidemeans for moving said detent members from said one position to saidalternate position synchronously with the movement of said slide means.

10. An actuating mechanism for operating a vending machine, saidmechanism using coins of a predetermined size to control the operationthereof comprising:

a body including a first plate, a second plate and a third plate, saidfirst plate juxtapositioned on one side of said second plate and saidthird plate juxtapositioned on the side of said second plate oppositesaid first plate;

said second plate defining a cutout communicating with the exterior ofsaid body for the introduction of the coins into said cutout;

slide means slidably carried within said cutout between said first andthird plates for moving the coins received in said cutout, said slidemeans defining at least one coin receiving recess therein to receive thethe coins introduced into said cutout;

check means carried within said cutout for selectively precludingmovement of said slide means within said cutout, said check meansresponsive to the diameter of the coin in said recess for permittingmovement of the said slide means when the coin is of a predetermineddiameter and for precluding movement of said slide means when the coinis of a diameter other than said predetermined diameter; and

manually engageable means carried exteriorally of said body andoperatively connected to said slide means for moving said slide meanswithin said cutout.

11. An actuating mechanism for operating a vending machine, saidmechanism utilizing coins of a predetermined size to control theoperation thereof comprising:

a first plate;

a second plate arranged in juxtaposition with said first plate;

a third plate arranged in juxtaposition with said second opposite saidfirst plate;

said second plate having a cutout therein and a coin entry passagecommunicating with the exterior of said mechanism and with said cutoutfor providing entrance of the coins into said cutout;

a slide means slidably carried in said cutout and between said first andthird plates, said slide means defining a coin receiving recess thereinconstructed and arranged to receive coins therein from said coin entrypassage when said slide means is in a first position and to retain thecoin therein as said slide means is moved from said first position to asecond position in said cutout;

check means operatively associated with said slide means for selectivelyprecluding movement of said slide means from said first position to saidsecond position in response to the diameter of the coins carried in saidrecess in said slide means, said check means permitting movement of saidslide means from said first position to said second position when thecoin in said recess is of a predetermined diameter and precludingmovement of said slide means from said first position to said secondposition when the coin in said recess is not of said predetermineddiameter;

said third plate defining first aperture adapted to receive coinstherethrough from said recess when said recess is in said firstposition;

first camming means carried by first said plate and constructed andarranged for moving coins from said recess through said first aperturewhen said slide means in said first position;

said third plate defining a second aperture therethrough constructed andarranged to overlie said recess in said slide means when said slidemeans is in said second position and adapted to receive coinstherethrough from said recess; and

second camming means carried by said first plate and constructed andarranged to move coins from said recess through said second aperturewhen said slide means is in said second position.

12. The mechanism of claim 11 wherein said third plate defines a secondcutout therethrough adjacent said coin entry passage and furtherincluding magnetic means for moving any coin containing ferrous materialfrom said coin entry passage through said second cutout.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,223052 11/1940 Vantuyl et a1.194-93 X 2,271,109 1/1942 Wahl 19493 X 3,011,614 12/1961 Palladino 19455STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

